Coupling device for vehicles



July 21, 1936. H. WOHLDORF 2,043,310

7 COUPLING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES V Filed Nov. 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l JnVen/ar Hans Wokhlorf July 21, 1936. H. WOHLDORF 2,048,310

COUPLING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Filed Nov. 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flyorn'eg s v Patented July 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application November 12, 1935, Serial No. 49,419 In Germany July '7, 1934 12 Claims. (01. 280-3315) The present invention relates to a coupling device for vehicles, and is particularly applicable to the purpose of coupling trailers to motor vehicles.

Couplers for motor vehicles have already been proposed, in which the coupling member has a forked head for insertion of the drawbar. forked heads proper of these prior devices are however merely in the form of guiding devices; They permit a slight swivel or lateral deviation only of the drawbar and aretherefore not suitable for vehicles operating on undulating or ircoupling member being provided with a hinged guide plate for the drawbar. According to one .form of the invention, which may be preferred in practice, the guide plate is connected to the coupling bolt by suitable means, for example by links, and the arrangement is such that when the coupling bolt moves into the coupling eye of the drawbar, the guide plate is removed beyond the range of the drawbar.

The guide plate is suitably connected with the coupling fork'head by a hinge and is flared out towards the end opposite to the hinge, the plate in the example shown being provided with guide walls.

The guide plate is also provided with a catch, for example a pawl, which acts to interlock the guide plate in the ready-for-coupling position with the coupling fork head. This pawl is released in the course of effecting the coupling, for example by the drawbar and, in the coupled position, keeps the guide plate beyond the range of the drawbar and simultaneously locks the coupling bolt in the coupled position.

The coupling device is preferably actuated by gravity or suitable mechanical means, at the moment when the drawbar comes into contact with the components of the coupling, for example with the catch, the guide plate being thus permitted to move out of the path of the drawbar and becoming locked in this position while the coupling bolt is simultaneously brought into the coupling position.

The invention also has for its object to provide a drawbar attachment for'this coupling device which is longitudinally shiftable, having at its front end a coupling eye, and intermediate its length a slotted hole, the drawbar being sup- The Moreover, they do not' ported in a yielding manner in the drawbar attachment by suitable means, for example by a spring. The drawbar is preferably slidably held within a guide sleeve, a guide head or drawbar guide, in which it can be locked, for example by means of a bolt. The bolt is subjected to the pressure of a spring, by which it is pressed into the profile section of the drawbar sleeve. The displacement of the drawbar relative to-its guide is suitably limited, for example by a stop, in order to limit the spring and braking effect by virtue of which the concussions of the vehicle are transmitted to the spring of the brake rod arranged on the drawbar sleeve of the drawbar and which has simultaneously a braking efiect in case the trailer should run up against the motor vehicle. The drawbar of the drawbar attachment is suitably coupled with the trailer brake by means of the spring for intercepting the concussions in such a manner that the latter are damped .by the braking effect produced.

According to the invention, a leg is also suitably linked to the drawbar attachment in the neighborhood of-the drawbar sleeve, which may be supported on the ground and is preferably subjected to spring-action in such a manner that when the vehicle is started, the leg is lifted and remains in this position.

In the drawings some forms of the invention are shown by way of example. I V

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a constructional form of the coupling device according to the present invention,

Fig. 2 shows the device in the operative or coupled position,

Fig. 3 is 'a plan view of the device shown in Fig. l, s

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a drawbar attachment according to the present-invention,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the drawbar attachment according to Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the device in Figs. 4 and 5,

Fig. '7 is a cross sectional view taken on line 1-4 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 8 is a cross-section taken on the line 8--3 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the trailer coupler consists of a coupling member or fork head I, which can be fitted on the rear part of a motor vehicle. A guiding device or guide plate 2 for the trailer drawbar l2 to be coupled, is linked to the fork head I with the aid oi a bolt 3. The guide plate 2 is in the form of a .trough or channel with lateral walls l0, Ill which are flared to the rear.

shown 10 bolt I is provided which, in the coupled position,

passes through the eye I3 of the trailer drawbar I2 and couples the latter with the coupling fork head I.

The coupling bolt 1 in the fork head I is held 15 by the two links 8, supported on the right and left by studs 9, 9', fitted on the guide walls I8, I8, of the guide plate 2 and by the bolt I I in the coupling bolt I.

The guide plate 2 and the bolt I are simultane- 20 ously brought into the lifted ready-for-coupling position shown in Fig. l, by lifting the guide plate 2 to such an extent that the projection 5 of the pawl 5 will catch into the fork head I. Then the front or driven vehicle is moved back towards the 25 trailer or the trailer is pushed towards the driven vehicle, care having only to be taken that the drawbar I2 is kept in the direction of the guide plate 2 and that it finds its way into the latter. As the pawl 5 is engaged by the drawbar I2 it is p 30 forced back to such an extent that the projection 5' can slip off the edge 6' of the slot 6, the guide plate 2 and simultaneously the couplingbolt I will move down by gravity, the coupling bolt 1, guided in the hole I, I", being pulled through 86 the eye I3 of the drawbar I2 into the position shown in Fig. 2. The process of coupling has thus been accomplished. Accidental uncoupling of the coupling, due to vibration or concussions, is not possible as, due to the eifect of the spring 5",

o thespring-actuated pawl 5 will now assume a position beneath the fork, head I and will keep the guide plate 2 from being lifted up.

When the vehicles are to be uncoupled, the

spring-actuated pawl 5 must first be turned back 45 into the position shown in Fig. 2 (dot and dash lines) by means of the handle I4, in order that the pawl may take its correct position towards the slot 6 of the fork head I. Then the guide plate 2 and simultaneously the coupling bolt 1 are 5 lifted up and out of the hole I3 in the drawbar I2..

The drawbar I2 is then pulled out of the fork head I by moving the vehicles apart. By releasing the pawl 5, it will snap back into the fork head I and will keep the guide plate 2 in the ready-for- 55 coupling position.

Figs. 48 show the drawbar attachment according to the invention, with the drawbar sleeve I of hollow rectangular section.' To the right and left of the sleeve I5, stays of channel-section. I6

50 are welded on in a known manner. Within the drawbar sleeve I5, the drawbar I2 is arranged so as to be axially displaceable. The front part of the drawbar proper I2 may consist of a solid bar of rectangular section and the rear part of a 65 square tube, closed or open. The eye I3 for receiving the coupling bolt I is arranged at the front end of the drawbar I2. Intermediate its length drawbar I2 is provided with a slotted hole I1.-

Within the drawbar sleeve I5 there is a hole (not I 7 shown) in which a bolt I8, subjected to the pressure of a spring 26, is vertically movable. In order to lock the drawbar I2 in the drawbar sleeve I5,

the bolt I8 may be inserted into the slotted hole I! of the drawbar I2.

the leg 28, the drawbar attachment thus taking provided in front of the slotted hole I1. The stop I9 is in contact with'a rod 28' arranged underneath the drawbar sleeve I5, held in flanges 2| and 22. The rod 28 is linked to the brake rod 23 of the trailer brake gear, not shown in the 5 drawing. This rod is forced in the direction of the stop I9 by a spring 24 provided on the rod 20 between the flange 22 of the drawbar sleeve I5 and the flange 25.

The rear part of the drawbar I2 is hollow in order to save in weight and may consist of a tube of rectangular section or of channel-iron, the legs of which are suitably bent inwards at right angles, in order to produce a better support.

When a driven vehicle is to be coupled with a trailer, the driven vehicle is moved backwards up to a distance of approximately 4 to 7 feet from the trailer and then stopped. The bolt I8 in the drawbar sleeve I5 is then lifted up, the drawbar I2 pulled out of the drawbar sleeve I5 to such an extent that the eye I3 is underneath the coupling eye or coupling bolt I of the driven vehicle. The motor vehicle is then again moved backwards until the drawbar I2 has been completely pushed into the drawbar sleeve I5 and the bolt I8, due 25 to the pressure of the spring 26, has fallen into the slotted hole I! of the drawbar I2. This ocours as soon as the stop I9 has come into contact with the rod 20 and has compressed the spring 24.

When the coupled vehicles are moving the concussions there between are intercepted by the spring 24. Should they trailer run up against the driven vehicle, owing to the brake of the motor vehicle being applied or when moving downhill, the trailer brake will be automatically applied by reason of the rod 20 being; forced backwards.

The brake will be released as soon as the thrust acting upon rod 20 ceases.

A leg 28 is suitably fastened and is capable of swivelling around a bolt 21 on the flange 22, in 40 order to support the drawbar I2 at therequired height, when inserting the drawbar I2 into the prevent the leg from tilting over in the direction of the coupler. I

As shown in the drawings, the swivel or tiltable leg 28 may be made of a bar of iron or of some other suitable materiaL- It may however also consist of -two parallel rods or the latter may diverge downwards. pling process to be effected single handed. As described above, the two vehicles are first moved towards one another, allowing an approximate distance of 3 feet between them. By turning the drawbar I2 sidewise, easily accomplished without having to use any great force, the drawbar attachment is swung into the direction of the sleeve 2. Finally the drawbar attachment is supported at the required height with the aid of approximately the position shown in Fig. l.

The invention is not necessarily confined to the specific form described herein and various constructional modifications may be introduced without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

J 1. A coupling device for vehicles; which includes a forked coupling member, a movable cou- The leg 28 enables the cou- 55 pling bolt carried by said member, a drawbar having an aperture therein to receive said coupling bolt, a guide member movable relative to said coupling member and said drawbar and arranged to guide the latter into engagement with said forked coupling'member and said coupling bolt, and means, releasable by said drawbar, for holding said coupling bolt in the inoperative position.

2. A coupling device for vehicles, which includes a forked coupling member, a movable coupling bolt carried by said member, a drawbar having an aperture therein to receive said cou-. pling bolt, a guide member mounted upon said coupling member so as to be movable relative thereto, said guide member being arranged to receive and guide said drawbar into engagement with said forked couplingmember and said coupling bolt, and means releasable by said drawbar for moving and latching said coupling bolt in the operative position.

3. A coupling device for vehicles which includes a forked coupling member, a movable coupling bolt carried by said member, a drawbar having an aperture therein to receive said'coupling bolt when the latter is moved, a guide member movable relative to said forked coupling member, said guide member being arranged to receive and guide said drawbar into register with said forked coupling member and said coupling bolt, link means for connecting said guide plate to said coupling bolt so that said movement of said guide plate and the movement of said coupling, bolt into the aperture of said drawbar are interrelated, and means, releasable by said drawbar for holding said coupling bolt in the inoperative position.

4. A coupling device for vehicles which includes a forked coupling member, a movable coupling bolt carried by said member, a drawbar having an aperture therein to receive said coupling bolt when the latter is moved, a. guide member pivotally mounted upon said forked coupling member so as to be movable relative thereto, said guide member comprising a plate flared out towards the end thereof-which faces the drawbar, and lateral guide walls projecting from the surface of said plate; and means releasable by said drawbar for moving and latching said coupling bolt in the operative position.

5. A coupling device for vehicles, which includes a forked coupling member, a movable coupling bolt carried by said member, .a drawbar having an aperture therein to receive said coupling bolt, a guide member mounted upon said forked coupling member so as to be movable relative thereto, said guide member being arranged to receive and guide said drawbar into register with said coupling member and said coupling bolt, and a catch device associated with said guide member to hold the latter in position, to receive said drawbar, and means on said drawbar for tripping said catch when said drawbar is moved into coupling position.

6. A coupling device for vehicles, which includes a forked coupling member, a movable coupling bolt carried by said member and arranged to move by gravity to assume operative coupling position, a drawbar having an aperture therein arranged to register with and receive said coupling bolt, a guide member mounted upon said forked coupling member, a catch device associated with said guide member to hold the latter in position to receive and guide said drawbar into register with said coupling member and coupling bolt, and link means connecting said coupling through said apertures in said bolt to said guide member so that said catch is efiective to hold said coupling bolt'in inoperative position, while at the movement of said coupling bolt into coupling position said guide member is moved away from said drawbar.

7. A coupling device for vehicles, which includes a forked coupling member having aligned apertures passing through the prongs thereof, a coupling bolt arranged to move freely through said apertures, a drawbar arranged to engage between the prongs and having an aperture to receive said coupling bolt, a guide plate 'movably mounted upon said coupling member, a catch mounted upon said guide plate and arranged to engage said coupling member to hold said guide plate in a position to receive and guide said drawbar between prongs and into register with said coupling bolt, said catch being arranged so as to be tripped by said drawbar, and link means for connecting said coupling bolt to said guide member so that when said catch is tripped by said drawbar said guide member moves away from said drawbar and draws said coupling bolt drawbar and said forked coupling member to effect the desired coupling.

8. A coupling device for vehicles as claimed in claim 7 in which the catch comprises a hook pivotally mountedon said guide member, and means for resiliently holding said hook in a position to engage the outer edge of one of said prongs so as to lock said guide member and said coupling bolt in the coupling position.

9. A coupling device for vehicles, which includes a forked coupling member, a substantially vertical coupling bolt arranged to pass through the prongs of said member transversely thereof, a drawbar adapted to enter between the prongs of said coupling member and having an aperture to receive said coupling bolt, a guide member movable relative to said coupling member and arranged to guide said drawbar into coupling position, and means releasable by said drawbar for holding said coupling bolt in the inoperative positlon.

10; A coupling device for vehicles, which includes a'forked coupling member, a substantially vertical coupling bolt arranged to pass through the prongs of said member transversely, thereof, a drawbar arranged to enter between the prongs of said coupling member and having an aperture to receive said coupling bolt, 2. guide member pivotally mounted upon said coupling member and arranged to guide said drawbar into, coupling position, link means connecting said coupling bolt to said guide member so that said bolt is upheld in inoperative position when said guide member is positioned to guide said drawbar and means releasable by said drawbar for retaining said guide member in said operative position.

11. A coupling device for vehicles, which includes a forked coupling member, a substantially vertical cdupling bolt arranged to pass through the prongs of said member transversely thereof, a drawbar adapted toenter between the prongs of said'coupling member and having an aperture to receive said coupling bolt, a guide member pivotally mounted upon said coupling member so as to move away from said drawbar by gravity, a catch member retaining said guide member in a position to guide said drawbar into coupling position, said catch being tripped by contact with said drawbar to release said guide mem- 4- 2,048,310 member to said coupling bolt so that said bolt is in 'which the catch is mounted upon said guide suspended in inoperative position when said guide member and so arranged as to lock the latter member is operative, and is lowered to couple [in the inoperative position and to retain said said coupling member to said drawbar when said coupling bolt in the operative position.

5 guide plate moves away from said drawbar.

12. A coupling device as claimed in claim 11, HANS WOHLDORF. 

